E30 Zone

....well they've arrived but I'm gutted.



The plan is to fit my 7" screens, fit new heated elements from BMW and then retrim in grey leather.

But I didn't realise the standard headrests I built my 7" tv's into are different to the recaros. So a lot of wasted time.





But this now means I can fit the 8" HD Volvo XC90 screens I've got but I'm poopng it I'm going to trash the irreplaceable recaro headrests.

They look nice Sarah, have you test fitted the headrests to see what they look like?

when you use terms like irriplaceable.. is it really worth it?

p.s they are recaro's not highbacks ;)

Imy, the poles are indifferent positions so they won't fit unfortunately.

Bob, yes fella, especially with journeys like Santapod ahead of me this year with tinies in the back asking are we there yet? every 3 minutes.

ps.... what are highbacks then if these aren't them?

Stuart, thanks for that. It's good to know.

You could get a professional company to do it for you? Might be a bit costly though.

Daryll wrote:ps.... what are highbacks then if these aren't them?

"Highbacks" are the ones fitted to the likes of Porsche 911s where the headrest is an integral part of the seat back.

Ah my bed, I stand corrected! I was always right before I became Sarah

Imy...maybe....I'll look into what it's going to cost me tomorrow.

Might cost you a bit but might be worth it, just imagine wrecking those lovely headrests trying to do it yourself, although the job on the other headrests is really neat

Yep, as above Recaro's are just Recaro's

That fake leather is nasty, I would just have the outers re-trimmed in Anthracite cloth same as the headrests, cant beat that colour on these

Luckily I got these relatively cheap Dan so a retrim is on the cards the cloth inserts are wrecked where someone has had a go at repairing them. As the foam is all being replace at the same time it'll all be wrapped in grey moo skin and then covered in mechanic style seat protectors to keep them fresh for the summer.

I agree with dan! anthracite cloth!

highbacks...

DanThe wrote:Yep, as above Recaro's are just Recaro's

Has the earth just tilted oddly or something,; I'm sure that when I first started mooching round the zone, Recaros were made of rocking horse poo and the lucky ones of us had sports seats in our cars....

Now recaros are JUST recaros?????????

What's the part number for an OEM brain gasket?

beemerbird wrote:

DanThe wrote:Yep, as above Recaro's are just Recaro's

Has the earth just tilted oddly or something,; I'm sure that when I first started mooching round the zone, Recaros were made of rocking horse poo and the lucky ones of us had sports seats in our cars....

Now recaros are JUST recaros?????????

What's the part number for an OEM brain gasket?

Because those of us who have Recaro's, realise they are just recaro's

Daryll wrote:Luckily I got these relatively cheap Dan so a retrim is on the cards the cloth inserts are wrecked where someone has had a go at repairing them. As the foam is all being replace at the same time it'll all be wrapped in grey moo skin and then covered in mechanic style seat protectors to keep them fresh for the summer.

You wont be replacing the foam mate

replace the foam? hehehehehe!! as if!

I'm heating them up Dan. So I'll be having the BMW heated foam inserts built into them when they go away for trimming.

Dont the elements just fit under the foam?
Foam for these is NLA, you cant get it from anywhere AFAIK, ive been looking for the best part of 2 years

DanThe wrote:Dont the elements just fit under the foam?
Foam for these is NLA, you cant get it from anywhere AFAIK, ive been looking for the best part of 2 years

I know a man who can. Rang and asked today and they've definitely got one complete set and are 87% sure they have a 2nd. If they have would you like me to get in touch?

Recaros are just recaros if they are the ones used in fords ect..

The BMW ones used in sports and cabbys are BMW sports seats and are special - and a lot more expensive. (they are not actualy racaros)

Bmw also did "high back" seats which were similar to the ford ones, thease are in some alpinas also jhonno has a set and barry had a set - they are vv special, and the head rests are seperate.

SUMPCRACKER wrote:Recaros are just recaros if they are the ones used in fords ect..

The BMW ones used in sports and cabbys are BMW sports seats and are special - and a lot more expensive. (they are not actualy racaros)

Bmw also did "high back" seats which were similar to the ford ones, thease are in some alpinas also jhonno has a set and barry had a set - they are vv special, and the head rests are seperate.

Thanks for that Mr Cracker. Much appreciated

Sumpcracker your wrong. They are not highbacks, they are Recaro sports seats http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=52&fg=25

If they were cheaper than sports seats then why are there more sports seats out there than Recaro's?

Mine came from a 4 door 325i

Now Dan, I also thought that the seats you have are an expensive Recaro sports seat option.

And are in the brochure as "Recaro sports seat option" but since ive been on here a lot of people have refered to them as highbacks, BSS had a similar set and refered to them as highbacks?

Also - I said
Ford type recaros - not special
Bmw sports seats - Special
Yours -BMW sports seats/ or highbacks? vv special.

SUMPCRACKER wrote:Ford type recaros - not special

They're far more special than BMW sports seats.

Hmm should I post pics of my Black leather Recaro's from the 635???







Rare?

SUMPCRACKER wrote: Also - I said
Ford type recaros - not special
Bmw sports seats - Special
Yours -BMW sports seats/ or highbacks? vv special.

Recaro sports seats

Highbacks is just a slang definition for them, most people refer to sports seats as Recaro's, so you can see where the confusion can come in if they are just called Recaro's.

Example -
I was offered an alfa last year, without seeing it, the guy said "its got Recaro's"
It didnt have Recaro's, it had cobra bucket seats

SUMPCRACKER wrote: Also - I said
Ford type recaros - not special
Bmw sports seats - Special.

wrong way round.

most Recaros are pretty special - the ones in Ford RS's are great

E30 BMW sports seats arent that special at all, they dont grip as well as recaros and arent as comfortable. the best thing that can be said about them is they are nicer than comfort seats

DanThe wrote:

Highbacks is just a slang definition for them, most people refer to sports seats as Recaro's, so you can see where the confusion can come in if they are just called Recaro's.

arent highbacks the ones as fitted to E30 M3 Sport Evo etc, with an incorporated headrest and (on this design but not all) harness slots

most Recaros are pretty special - the ones in Ford RS's are great

Agreed. Recaros have always been excellent and with the possible exception of Scheel seats,they are the best for any sporting saloon IMO

BMW sport seats are great but they are not in the same league when compared with the above really.

as rare as an e24 635 matey

Bob, most came with the standard sport seats, like E30's Haven't seen ANY with these recaro's in. Not even an M6 from Dubai which I saw the other day came with them.

When i say special, i dont mean how good they are, the ford ones win hands down!!

I meant value and rarity.
A set of ford/rover recaros go from about £60
A set of bmw sports seats from £200
And bmw recaro sports over 1 billion dollars.??

The seats oze has are the early type sports option for e21 323, e28, e24 ect...when bmw were using these the likes of ford were using simalr type fisnet recaro's and roll tops,
(quite a rare option in a bmw imo)

Not sure on the cut off dates, it seems to change with model rather than date.

Dans type are the late ones for e30/e34 ect..the later type design is pretty much as the ford rs turb/cosworth ones with thinner squabs.

Should have put this in my first post,

All the info is from 80's car mags and brochurs.

DanThe wrote:

SUMPCRACKER wrote: Also - I said
Ford type recaros - not special
Bmw sports seats - Special
Yours -BMW sports seats/ or highbacks? vv special.

Recaro sports seats

:

Thats what i meant

Daryll wrote:....
But this now means I can fit the 8" HD Volvo XC90 screens I've got but I'm poopng it I'm going to trash the irreplaceable recaro headrests.

Probably not quite irreplaceable mate - they look the same headrests as fitted to any number of recaro fitted 80's cars - 2.8 Capri, Astra /Manta GTE, Various Ford RS models. Certainly the same shape and size anyway ! I don't think you'll have too much trouble getting replacements if you make a mess of them.

i have a set of these recaros with the alpina green and blue stripes down them they are in good condition with the drivers side excellent i want to sell them but can't be bothered to get the pics up anyone who wants them can pm me though and save me the bother. I won't be giving them away though they are uber rare and not even in most alpinas.